LONG TERMERS KINETIC NOVA 135

PRIME MOVERFirst report The petite stress-free Nova is getting its first taste of Mumbai. The metallic blue-and-gray Nova 135 is the newest addition to our fleet. Looks do matter on scooters — while we feel the styling is a bit too contrived, this paint scheme looks much better than the brown one we had on test a few months ago. The new kid was sitting quiet and pretty when we decided to find out what it was like in actual Mumbai traffic. The 135cc motor is strong and smooth; plus, not having to shift gears in traffic makes this the ultimate point-and-scoot scooter. The suspension soaks up potholes and bad roads without transferring too much to the rider’s backside. The sole concern is that it feels nervous when asked to shift directions quickly and doesn’t inspire too much confidence with the way it handles in traffic. The brakes are good, but could do with slightly more bite. The huge boot can easily accommodate a full-size helmet and other paraphernalia. Kinetic has provided an econo-meter in the instrument cluster that tells you if you are riding in power or economy mode depending on the throttle position, not unlike the systems on many of the 100- and 125cc motorcycles. There is a beeper that emits a beep when you cross between the modes, but thankfully it can be shut off via a switch near the accelerator. And for the all-important ‘How far it will go on a litre of petrol?’ question. We got an average of 40.31 kpl which is not too bad considering the size of the engine and that it is still being run in. Suffice it to say, the Nova 135 is stress-free and practical to ride in town and for this reason, we probably won’t see it sitting idle anymore. l Ouseph Chacko

LOG BOOK Distance covered 500km Fuel consumption Total fuel consumed 12.4 litres Average fuel consumption 40.31 kpl No. of fillings (brimmed) 2 worst 37.6kpl Best 42.3kpl Total maintenance cost Nil Running costs Rs 1.09 per km Faults None Likes Big boot, smooth powerful engine, gear-less hassle-free motoring. Dislikes Contrived styling, nervous handling.